Strap fastening tool



Oct. 7, 1952 B. M. CRAIG 2,612,804

STRAP FASTENING TOOL Filed Julie 2, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet l we if?" y I(mi 3;;

4 Sheets-S heet 2 B. M. CRAIG STRAP FASTENING TOOL v 4 mm U 4 2 A m Oct.7, 1952 Filed June 2, 1947 Oct. 7, 1952 CRAIG 2,612,804

STRAP FASTENING TOOL 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 2, 1947 iron or .i1'g1az 5;

Vr//\\ 46 75 1 if Oct. 7, 1952 B. M. CRAIG STRAP FASTENING TOOL 4Sheets-Sheei 4 Filed June 2, 1947 Ezv'enfin; M14711. &9

Patented Oct. 7, 1 952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE" STRAP FASTENING TOOLBurnie M. Craig, Pasadena, Calif" assignor to Michael J. McAneny,Buffalo, N. Y.

Application June 2, 1947, Serial No. 751,912

13 Claims.

This invention relates generally to certain new and useful improvementsin hand-operated tools for facilitating the banding or strapping ofpackages by metallic straps and buckles.

It has for one of its objects to provide a reliable and efficient toolof this character which is designed and constructed for use on all typesand shapes of packages to be shipped, and which in a given operativestroke tensions or tightens the strap about the package, cuts the strapto the length required, and finally forms, couples and seals the end ofthe strap to the buckle.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a strap-fasteningtool which is so designed as to adapt it for use with thin strapmaterial, which can be readily brought into and out of operativerelation to a strap to be fastened, and which embodies in a unitmechanism controlled by an actuating lever or handle the functions oftensioning, cutting, forming and scaling in sequence.

A further object is to provide the tool with simple and effective meansfor holding the strap in its tensioned, package-encircling position andat the same time relieve the free end of the strap of any tensionthereon so as to enable it to be readily and properly formed or bent andproperly presented into coupling engagement with the buckle.

A still further object of the invention is to provide novel grippingmeans for exerting a pull or tension on the strap about the package insuch a manner that when the actuating lever is moved in one direction itpositively grips the strap and when partially moved in the oppositedirection it is released from the strap prior to taking another bite orhold on the strap, if required.

Other features of the invention reside in the construction andarrangement of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed outin the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of my tool showing the same in operativerelation to a package. Figure 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary sideelevation thereof. Figure 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary longitudinalsection thereof taken on line 3-3, Figure 1. Figur 4 is a cross sectiontaken on line 4-4, Figure 2. Figure 51s a fragmentary top plan view ofthe front end of the tool showing the buckle-rest and strap-clampingmechanism. Figure 6 is a front end view of the same. Figure 'l is across section taken on line 1-1, Figure 5. Figure 8 is a detail sideview showing the.

relation of the buckle and strap portions to the 2 I tool. Figure 9 is afragmentary sectional elevation of the buckle and strap-clampingassembly. Figure 10 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of such assembly.Figure 11 is an enlarged, fragmentary longitudinal section, similarto'Figure 3, showing the tool in its strap-tensioning position. Figure12 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, showing the toolin its strapcutting and forming position. Figures 13, 14 and 15 arefragmentary longitudinal sections, similar to Figure 3, showing,respectively, the tool in its strap-cutting and forming positions, itsposition for bending-the end of the strap over and into couplingrelation with. the buckle, and the final position of sealing the strapto the buckle. Figure 16 is a perspective view of the buckle. Figure 17is a side elevation of the buckle and the coacting strap portion,showing the terminal end of the strap bent about and inserted in thelower retaining loop of the buckle.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, itconsists of an openlike, rectangular frame composed of spaced,longitudinal side rails l5, I5, a transverse tie member 15 disposedbetween the rear ends of said rails and suitably shaped to provide alaterally-opening guide slot i6 therein for bringing thetool into andout of engagement with the package band or strap to be operated upon bythe tool as well as to provide a supportingfoot for the rear end 'of thetool, and front extensions l1, I! of substantially T-sh,ape in planbolted or otherwise secured to the outer sides of said rails and onwhich the strap-clamping and buckle-rest assembly of the tool aremounted. For the purpose of manipulating the tool when buckling aretaining strap about a package or the like, a suitable handle I8 isprovided which extends rearwardly from the frame. and. is fixed at itsforward end in the tie member IS. The position of the tool in use isdepicted in Figure 1, where 7 l9 indicates the package to be banded, 20indicates a metallic strap or band about to be buckled and sealed aboutthe package by the tool, and

2| indicates a completely sealed strap secured at its ends to a buckle22.

This buckle is blanked and formed from a single piece ofrectangular-shaped metal or the like folded upon itself and, as shown inFigures 16 and 17, has longitudinal flanges 23 at its opposite sides tobe received by the tool in operative relation thereto, a centrallongitudinal passage 24 through which the opposing free ends of thestrap are threaded in overlying relation, and front and rear portionsoffset from the top and bottom sides of the buckle to provide archedloops or straps and 26, respectively, which are inclined slightly to theplane of the buckle. One end of the strap 20 to be applied to thepackage is extended through the buckle-passage 24 and folded orreversely bent about the underside of the buckle, while the opposingoverlying end of the strap is extended in the reverse direction throughthe buckle-passage. It is in this looplike position of the strap aboutthe package that the tool is brought into operative relation there'-with and with its buckle to pull the strap snugly and tightly about thepackage in one stroke-like operation of the tool and hold it in thatposition with the free end of the overlying portion of the strap free oftension, after which the steps of cutting such untensioned free end,forming or bending it over the buckle, and finally sealing thestrap-ends and buckle are performed in a second stroke-like operation ofthe tool. That end of the strap bent about the buckle may assume theposition shown in Figures 11 and 12, or its free end may be insertedinto the buckle-loop 28, as shown in Figure 17.

Guided for lateral adjustment on the lower ends of the transverse,substantially medial flanges 21 of the side rail extensions H, H, andwhich flanges terminate in spaced relation at their opposing inner endsto clear the side edges of th strap, as shown in Figures 5, '7, and 10,are companion block-like members or bucklerests 28 having hook-like lips29 at their lower ends for detachable gripping engagement with the frontends of the side flanges 23 of the buckle 22,

in the manner shown in such figures and also in Figures 11 and 12. Bypreference, the lower guide portion 30 of the flanges 21 aresubstantially T-shaped and the companion interfitting grooves 3| of thebuckle-rests are of like shape. Each of the latter is set in itsadjusted position, as determined by the size of the buckle, by

an adjusting screw 32 mounted transversely in the corresponding siderail extension and engaging a threaded opening in the block member, in

the manner shown in Figure 7.

Disposed forwardly of the buckle-rests 28 in .parallel relation theretoand mounted for movement toward and from each other between the frontends of the side rail extensions [1, i1 are strap-engaging jaws orblocks 33 having lugs or projections 34 at the bottom sides of theirinner or opposing ends for releasable supporting engagement beneath themarginal side edges of the strap 20, as shown by dotted lines in Figurel 6. These jaws are guided at their lower ends on a transverse rod 35supported at its ends in the side rail extensions and rising from theother side of each jaw is an upright flange 36. A rotatable cylindricalcam 31 is journaled on each jaw-flange 36, but held againstaxialdisplacement relative thereto, and an axle 38 supported at its ends inthe side rail extensions serves, jointly with the guide rod 35, toproperly guide the jaws and their companion cams bodily toward and fromeach other. Each cam has a spiral or diagonal groove 39 disposedpart-way about its periphery and extending into the same is a couplingpin 40 projecting forwardly from the upper end of the companion oradjoining buckle-rest 28, as'shown in Figures 5 and 9. A

crank handle or actuating knob 4| is connected jointly to the companionearns 31 by radial arms 42 each fixed at one end to its cam andextending at its other end through a longitudinal slot 43 formed in thehandle and terminating at such end in an outwardly-bent shank 44 free tomove or slide in a longitudinal opening 45 formed in the handle and incommunicating relation with said slot. A cover or hood 46 extends overthe cams 31 and associated parts and it has a forwardly and downwardlyconverging opening 41 therein through which the handle-arms 42 extendand along the edges of which they are guided. In the released ornon-strap engaging position of the jaws 33, the operating handle assumesthe upright position shown in Figures 3 and 6. Upon turning this handleforwardly to the substantially horizontal position shown in Figures 1and 9, the cams 31 are turned therewith and because of the cam-grooveand coupling pin construction 39, 40, the cams and their companion jaws33 are compelled to contract or shift toward each other to bring thejaw-lugs 34 beneath and in supporting engagement with the marginal edgesof the strap. In this position of the parts, the lower adjoiningportions of the jaw-blocks above lugs 34 partially overhang the top orouter face of the strap in the manner shown in Figures 6 and 9.

Each strap-engaging jaw 33 is also provided with means for effectuallyclamping that portion of the strap forwardly of the buckle, as supportedfrom beneath by the jaw-lugs 34, to the tool during the operation ofpulling or tensioning the strap snugly about the package andsubsequently sealing it to the buckle. This clamping action,furthermore, is performed simultaneously with that of the movement ofthe cams and the jaws to their strap-engaging position. To this end, avertically-swinging gripping dog 48 is fulcrumed at 49 to the inner faceof each jaw-block 33 and rearwardly of the cam-axle 38. a recess 50being provided to receive it so the dog is in the operating path of thecompanion cam 3'! and in a plane intersecting the companionstrap-supporting jaw-lug, as shown in Figures 6 and 9. This dog ispreferably in the form of a two-armed lever with one arm having grippingteeth 5| at the lower end thereof and the other arm being engaged by aspring 52 .seated in an adjoining portion of the companion jaw-block andconstantly urging the dogto seek a strap-gripping position. Each camgoverns the movement of the companion dog into and out of its grippingposition, and in the released position of the operating handle 4|, shownin Figure 3, the respective cams 31 engage the dogs in a manner toproject them in a direction to bring their gripping teeth 5| above andclear of the strap. On its periphery each cam has a fiat or chordal face53 which functions, in the operative or gripping position of the handle4!,

to allow the companion dog 48 to be displaced by its spring 52 in adirection to bring its teeth into gripping engagement with the strap, asshown in 'Figures 9 and 15,- these dogs together with the strap-engagingmechanism which-serves to grip and pull or tighten the strap about thepackage, to cut the overlying stretch of the strap at a point rearwardlyof the buckle, to form or shape such resulting rearward extension of thestrap and fold and direct it into coupling engagement with the buckle,and to finally seal the buckle and strap to provide a strong connection.This mechanism is further so constructed as to perform the tighteningoperation of the strap about the package when moved in one direction,while the remaining operations are performed when the mechanism is movedin the opposite direction. This mechanism is preferably constructed asfollows:

The numeral 5 3 indicates a slide-member of substantially U-shape inplan and grooved at its opposite sides for guiding engagement with theside rails l5, [50f the tool-frame, as shown in Figures 1 and 4:. .Oneside wall of this slide member extends somewhat below that of itsopposite side and has fastened thereto a horizontally-disposed cutterblock or anvil 55 extending the full length of such member and bridgingthe open bottom thereof. The opposite wall of the slide member has anupright recess 56 in the inner face thereof at its front end for apurposewhich will later appear. The bottom side of the cutter block issubstantially in the same plane as the buckle-e rest lips 29 andjaw-lugs 34, and in operation the tool rests on the forwardly-extendingor lower stretch of the strap 20 while the rearwardly-extending oroverlying portion of the strap passes over the top side of such block inthe manner shown in Figure 3; the tool being brought laterally into andout of operative relation with the strap. At its front end the cutterblock has a pointed nose 51 and immediately to the rear and in the topside thereof has a forwardly-sloping face 58 terminating at its frontend in a like-facing shoulder 59. Immediately to the rear of thissloping face is a transverse recess Bil, all of these parts of thecutter block functioning during the forming and cutting operations onthe strap.

Disposed in the open space of the slide member 54 and pivoted at itslower end at 6| thereto is a vertically-swinging rock member 52 whichcooperates with the cutter block in gripping,

forming, cutting and sealing the strap to the buckle. At its lower rearor corner end this rock member is serrated, as indicated at 63, so thatwhen it is rocked rearwardly it serves as a gripping pawl by grippingthe top side of the strap and clamping it firmly against the top of thecutter block or anvil 55. Forwardly of this grip-,

ping pawl portion of the rock member and extending transversely of thelower side thereof is a downwardly opening notch or groove 64 for re-.ceiving the cut or sheared end of the strap in the manner shown inFigure 13. This groove defines along the rear side thereof a cutting orshearing front edge the groove 54 defines a downwardly and rearwardlydirected, substantially V-shaped die portion 66 which cooperates withthe sloping face 58, shoulder 55 and pointed nose 5'! of the cutterblock, upon the completion of the forward rocking stroke of the rockmember, to upwardly I bend or form the severed end portion of the strapin the manner shown in Figure .12. At its lower front oncorner end therock member-tz 'has a.?

6 second, substantially V-shaped die portion 61 which functions to.press and seal the upwardlybent end of the strap downwardly in arched-like fashion against and into couplingengagement with the buckle, asseen in Figure15. The'upp'er end of this second die portion.terminatesina forwardly-facing nib or projection 68 which func- .tionsat a predetermined time in the strap-bending operation to contacttheJupWardIy-be'nt tip end of the strap and, upon a forward movement'ofthe slide and rock member, impart a slight lift thereto in order toinsure a positive subsequent engagement of the die portion'Blxof suchrock member with the strap-end to forceit into= coupling relation withthe buckle. f

Pivoted at 69 in the slideerecess 56 adjacent the opposing outer wall ofthe rock member 62-is a vertically-swinging latch 70 having a spring llabutting the same for constantly. urging it in the forwardly-swingingdirection, showni n :Figure 2,

with the lower rear edge of the latch abutting the opposing inclinedface of the recess. A-pin-H projects laterally from one side of therockmember for engagement with this latch'to govern'the rockingmovements of such member during the operation of the tool; When theslide member approaches the forward end of its stroke.-shown inl -lgures12 and 13, the front end of thelatch I it abuts the opposing rear wallof thera-il-flange 'Zltocause such latch to rock rearwardly to releasethe coupling pin 12 therefrom-whereupon the rock member 52 is free to berocked ina rearward direction by the manipulation-of the handle '53 tocut the strap 28 to the "proper length as 'well'as form itssheared endin themanner depicted in Figure 13. The slide and rock members oroperated manually totheir'respective operatingpositionsby means ofaverticallyswinging operating handle or lever lapi'voted at its frontend at i l between a pair of lugs 15 rising from the rock member andincluding a pair of toggle links 16 pivoted at one end-at 'Il to saidoperating lever outwardly of its pivot 74 and attheir I other ends at T8to the upper end of the tie member 56. Between the latter and theslidemember 54 is a resilient stop for cushioning its rearward movement, suchstop preferably-consisting of a plunger 19 guidedin theproje'cted frontend of the handle .18 and backed by a spring 30, as shown "in Figure 3.This resilient st'op also tends-to urge the slide member forwardly fromits retracted position and thereby facilitates the rapid operation ofthe tool during the pawls 48 are depressed by cam 31, is placed overstrap 251 and buckle 22 is engaged with flange portionsilt betweenbuckle rests 2'8 and lips 29 and with the portion of the strap extendingthrough the buckle passing through 's'lot l'fia 'at the rear of the tooland overlying anvil55 of slide as. Cam lever 42 is turned tothe'position illustrated in Fig. 2 shifting strap grippingmembers 33from their open -full line position-to the "strap engaging positiondotted line position with lugs 54 engaged beneaththe strapas illustratedin Fig. 6. Inthis position pawls 48 are urged by 54,62 are shiftedsprints-'52; into engagement; with the; strap, the pawl. lever arms:having: entered the chordal. re.- misses; of the.- cams. This causes.the tool. to. be retained; and the, strap; to be engaged between the;gripping: dogs- 48.' and: lugsi 3.4 against with,- drawal- OfPthBI.strap from; the. buckle but permits a, drawingmovement: of the strap;through the buckle: by the; tool. Following engagement. of the; tool.with the stranand buckle, the handle. 13; is swung to. cause thapawlend63.0f rocker 6.2:to be. elevated above .tnerstrap. and the slide. 5.4;to slide; forwardly: a distance determined. by the. extent of movementOfsthe: handler. Swinging: ofthe; handle in: a. re.- verse directioncauses: pawl 63. to grip. the strap .aflfi-instz anvil. 55: andaslidezdl; is. forced rearward- 1y; togdraw' the; strap through the buckle and.ten.- sion ,it, the; tension thereof being: held beyond the buckle; byen agement of: dogs; 48; This. operatiqnsmayzbe-repeated, as desired to.effect. completestightening: of. the strap through the buckle andea'ound' the; Object. In. thefstraptensioning movements; of the slide,and rock member latch "11 is; in-engagement with pin 12 limiting forwardmcking; movement. of rocker 6'2 but when the strap: is; sufficientlytensioned, and; severing and fastening of ;the untensionedcut end tothe-buckle ,is .,des ired; the slide is caused to be moved to aforward-position wherein. latch is tripped by engggernentwith the-railflange; 2-! to allow further rocking of memberGZ by the handle to.cnttherstrap and bendits end upwardly by the copperating-cutting and,bending die portions of therocker fiz and anvil 55. After cutting and.formingthe strap; slide: 5 4,together with rocker 62, is moved by thehandle rearwardly until the forward end portions 61 and Share disposedrearwardly of thebent end of the strap, after which the. slide. is:again advanced to cause rocker portion to initiate an upward foldingmovement of, the strap and portion 6.1 to fold the strap end over theupper side of the buckle. and forcethe end of the strap under. arch 25of the buckle. Inthis movement, the untensioned severed end ot thestrap. is in effect bent around the end of the-buckle, andironedintosubstantially flat errgagementtwiththe buckle with the end of the strap.confined by the buckle, arch.

g The, strapa'having been tensioned, cut, formed andgfolded overand'into the buckle, camoperating; lever 4 2 is' swung upwardly to itsoriginal position and the; machine or tool isireleased from s.trapand-buckle engagement.

I claim as my invention:

1. A strap fasteningtool oftheschara'cter described, comprising aframehaving meansthereon to detachably receive. a buckle to which one end ofabandedstrap,is'connected, said buckle- ,receiving meansincludinglaterally-adjustable =members havingrests thereon for supportinrthe marginal side; edges of the buckle, laterally-displaceable meansmountedon said frame forwardflyiofmsaid:buckle-receiving means andadapted toirecelve; and clamp thereto the other. end of he straptobefastened to the buckle, and means mounted on saidframeandoperatively'connected ;-to'said strap receivingi means for actuating thesame. toward and from'each other into and out of-the engagement withthemarginal side edges h i ed 2. A strap fastening tool of the characterdescribed,, comprising a frame-having means thereomtohetachably receiveabuckle towhich one ;end-;; of;,a banded strap. is, connected,laterallyedisnlacea'ble means; mountedon said frame forwardly 'ofsaid.buckleereceivins means and adapted: to; detachably-receive the other endof the. strap to be'fastened' to the buckle, gripping elements:mountedon. said strap-receiving means forreleasably clamping such: strapportion thereto, andymeans, mounted on said frame and 0D- erativelyconnected to. the strap-receiving, means for-actuating the sameinto andout of receiving relation: with. the strapend the gripping elementsinto. and", out. of: clamping relation with the. strap.

3.. A strap; fasteningv tool of the. character de;- scribed,comprisingaaframe having meansithereon to: dcta-chably' receive: abuckle to, which one end of; a; banded strap. is connected, meansmounted on said frame forwardly of said bucklereceiving; means for;movement laterallythereof into: and out: Of receiving relation with theother end of the strap, spring pressed gripping elements. applied to;said: strap-receiving means in correlation thereto. for releasablyclamping. such strap: portion thereto, and manually controlledactuating: means for the. strap-receiving means and the gripping:elements for causing the projectionofthe.strap-receivingxmeansintoreceiving engagement and for releasing thegripping element: for gripping engagement with the strap whenimovedinone direction and the retraction of: such parts to: their releasedpositions when moved inthe oppositedirection.

l: A strap fastening. tool" of? thecharacter described; comprisingaframehaving means thereon to detachably receive a buckle to which oneend: of av banded strap is connected, means mounted on saidiframeforwardly of said bucklereceiving means: for movement laterally. thereofinto: and. out. of receiving; relation. with the other end of: thestrap, vertically-displaceable' gripping elements pivoted on saidstraprreceiving means for rele asably clamping the .strapthereto,springs engaging saidelements for normally urging them to; a.clampingposition, and. manually actuated, oscillatory andlaterally-movable means. operatively' connected: to. saidstrap-receiving means forcausing: their lateral displacement into andout. of receiving relation with the strap, said oscillatory means.having: portions in governing relationwithrsaid gripping elements forcontrolling; their simultaneous. companion displacement into. and outofclamping engagement with the strap.

.5. A strap fastening tool of the character described, comprising'aframe having means thereon; to: detachably'receive a buckle to which oneend of. a bandedv strap is connected, means mounted on said-frameforwardly of'said bucklereceiving. means for movement laterally thereofintoand' out of'receiving relation with the other end of the strap;vertically-displaceable gripping elements. pivoted on saidstrap-receiving. means for releasably clamping thestrap thereto, springsengagingsaid elements for normally urging them to. aclamping position,manually-actuated oscillatory and. laterally-movable means operativelyconnected; to said. strap-receiving means for causing their lateral.displacement into and out of; receiving. relation with the strap, saidoscillatory.- means having portions in governing relation: with saidgripping elements. for controlling their simultaneous companiondisplacement into and out. oficlamping engagement with the strap,

andan operatingmember for said oscillatory and laterally-movable meansincluding radial arms fixed: at one end. to: such means and a handleslotted to; receive. the. other. ends of said arms to. permit; the;movement. of: said arms laterally toward and from each other and.relative to said handle.

I 6. Astrap fastening tool of the character described, comprising aframe, buckle-receiving members mounted on said frame for lateraladjustment toward and from each other and having rests at their lowerends for supporting the marginal side edges of a buckle, strap-engaginmembers mounted on said frame forwardly of said buckle-receiving membersfor lateral displacement toward and from each other into and out ofreceiving engagement with the strap, spring pressed gripping elementspivoted on said com panion strap-engaging members for releasablyclampingthe strap thereto, and means for actuating said strap-engaging membersinto and out of their strap-engaging positions and for controlling thedisplacement of their gripping elements into and out of their clampingpositions, said means including spirally-grooved cams operativelyconnected to said members to travel laterally therewith and free to turnrelatively thereto, coupling pins projecting from said buckle-receivingmembers and engaging the grooves of the companion cams, and an operatinghandle jointly connected to said cams for turning them in one directionor the other to correspondingly displace the strap-engaging members intoand out of their operative position, said cams having portions thereonin governing relation with said gripping elements for causing theirsimultaneous displacement into and out of clamping engagement with thestrap.

7. A strap fastening tool of the character described, comprising a framehaving a handle at one end and means at its opposite end to detachablyreceive a buckle to which one end of a strap is connected, releasableclamping means applied to said frame forwardly of said buckle-receivingmeans for guidingly engaging and gripping the other end of the strap, astrap-engaging slide and rocker mechanism guided for longitudinalmovement on said frame to the rear "of the bucklereceiving means andincluding complementary elements thereon for clamping the strap thereto,for cutting the strap end to the rear ofithe buckle and for forming andsealing such end over the buckle, and a vertically-swinging leveroperatively connected to the frame and said mechanism for imparting afore and aft sliding and rocking action thereto for causing the clampingof the strap on its forward movement and for causing the forming andsealing operations on its rearward movement.

8. A strap fastening tool of the character described, comnrising a framehaving a handle at one end and means at its opposite end to detachablyreceive a buckle to which one end of a strap is connected, releasableclamping means applied to said frame forwardly of said bucklereceivingmeans for guidingly engaging and gripping the other end of the strap, astrap-engaging slide and rocker mechanism guided for longitudinalmovement on said frame to the rear of the buckle-receiving means andincluding complementary elements thereon for clamping 'the strapthereto, for cutting the strap end to the rear of the buckle and forforming and sealing such end over the buckle, and a vertically-swinginglever operatively connected to said mechanism for imparting a fore andaft sliding and rocking action thereto for causing the clamping of thestrap on its forward movement and for causing the forming and sealingoperations on its rearward movement, said lever being pivoted at itsfree end to atherocker portionof said mechanism and link-connectedoutwardly; I. of such pivot to the rear endof said frame.

9. A strap fastening toolof thecharacter described, comprisingaframehavingga handle at one end and means at its opposite endtodetacha'bly receive a buckle to ;-which-one end of a strap isconnected, releasable clampingmeans applied. to said frame forwardly ofsaid buckle: receiving means for ,guidingly, engaging -and gripping theothersend of'thestrapga strapengaging slide and rocker mechanism guidedfor,

longitudinal movement: on-said frame to the rear of the buckle-receivingmeans and. including complementary elements thereon for clampin thestrap thereto, for cutting the-strap venchto;

the rear of, the buckle and forforming and sealing such end over thebuckle, the rocker portion of said mechanism being pivoted on theqslideportion thereof for relative vertically swinging movement to impart aclamping action on-the strap when rocked in one direction andto 1m:

part a cutting and forming action on that -pQI-1 tion of thestraprearwardly of the buckle when rocked in the reverse directionandmanually; operated lever andlatch means operativelycon-, nected to saidframe and saidslide "and rocker mechanism for imparting relative foreand-aft sliding and: rocking movements thereto 5 10. A strap fasteningtool of the-character de-s scribed, comprisingva framehaving a handle atone endand means .atyits :op-posite end to detachably receive a buckletoiwhich one end-,of

a strap is connected, releasable-clamping means; applied to said frameforwardly, ot-saidbucklereceiving means for guidinglw -engaging andgripping the Other endof the strap astrapengaging slidei'and; rockermechanism; guided for longitudinal movementon said frame .to the rear ofthe buckle-deceiving:,means,;;-the slide portion of such mechanism beingsubstantially U -shapein" plan and having an anvil-like mem berbridging" the lower "endg thereof -,overwh-ich the strap is adapted toextend, the rocker por-fl tion of such mechanism being pivoted adjacentits lower end in the U-space of the slide portion forvertically-swinging movement, the opposing faces of said anvil-likemember and said rocker having complementary strap-clamping portionsthereon, engageable with each other when the rocker is swung in onedirection and having complementary shearing and die-forming portions forcutting and forming the end of the strap when the rocker is swung in thereverse direction, and manually operable lever means connected to saidrocker portion and said frame for sliding and operating the rockermechanism.

said mechanism having an'anvil-like member.

at its lower end over which the strap extends and provided at its frontend with a nose for bending the free end of the' strap over the buckle,and the rocker of said mechanism'having a die portion complementary, tosaid anvil nose for bending and pressing the free end of thestrap insealing relation to the "buckle, "said rd'ckerh'aving a second dieportion thereon {engageable with the tip of the bent end for the strapto impart a slight lift thereto for properly presenting the resultingbend in the strap between the complementary :die portions of the rockerand anvil member, and manually operable lever means connected to saidrocker portion and said "frame for sliding and operating therockermechanism.

12. Afstrap fastening tool ofthe character :described, comprising aframe having a :handle .at its -1ear-end, a strap-clamping means at the,front end of the frame, =means-on said frame for detachablysupporting abuckle reamardly of the strapclamping means, a slide member engageable with the strap and guided for longitudinal movement -on the frame towardand from the buckle-supporting means, a rocker member'pivotd at itslower end to said slide member to swing vertically, complementaryelements on said slide and roc'k'er members for Jointly operatingon thefree end of the strap "to cut, form and'seal the same with the buckle, averticallyswinging-operating lever pi-voted atits front end to the upperendof said rockermember for actuating the latter and the slide member, alink p'iv'oted at one-end to the rear-end of said .irame and at itsother end to :sa'id Z-lever outwardly :of itspi'vot, a "-latchfdl'crumedon said slide member and having a spring bearing thereon fornormally urging it to a forwardly-projected :position, and a pin appliedto said :rocker member and gmovable therewith into and out :of couplingengagement withsaid latch.

5 13. A strap fas'teningtooloi the character .described, comprising airame having means at its head-end for guiding engagement with the strapand tor supporting "a buckle in operative relatl'c'in'th'ereto-and'-having'means 'at'its rear end for guiding engagement with thestraps, clamping m'eans applied to the head end *of said frame forreleasably gripping the strap between it andsaid 1 2 head end fguidin'gmeans, a slide member guided on said frame between the front and rearends thereof :and including .adie portion over the top and bottom facesof which the opposing strap ends are adapted to overlie, a rocker:member fulcrumed on said (slide in correlation with the die portionthereof and having gripping, cutting, forming and sealing :elementsthereon, areleasable latching connect-ion'between said 'slide and rockermembers, and an actuating means .operatively connected'tolsaid frame andtosaidslide and rocker members ifor governing said latching connectionand causing the actuation Of the roc'kermember in one directionforeffecting the gripping and tensioning of the strap about the packagewhen :such means is moved in one direction and .for causing theactuation of the rocker member :and the slide member in the 1'eversedirection for effecting .the cutting, forming and sealing of the cutendof the strap over and in coupling engagement with the buckle when saidactuating means is moved in the opposite direction.

BERNIE .M. CRAIG.

"REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 493,330 Harding Mar. 14, 18931,712,037 Halter May 7, 1929 1,939,746 Whitman Dec. 19, 1933 2,036,866'fFrost .Apr. 7, 1936 2,100,601 Harvey Nov. 30, 1937 2,267,532 MobergDec. 23, 1941 2,368,969 Cleveland Feb. 6, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS NumberCountry Date 71,329 Norway Dec. 9, 1946

